Amit Chopra, Head of Commercial e-Mobility at Schneider Electric, takes a look at the steps you can take to get ahead in the world of EV charge point installations.
e-Mobility will be a key factor in achieving the target of a 45% reduction in global CO2 emissions by 2030. Electrifying transportation is an exciting yet monumental challenge, but it also presents an opportunity to create a sustainable ecosystem whereby electric vehicles open a pathway to put energy at the centre of consumer and business minds. All indicators show we’re moving in the right direction with the cost of batteries lower annually, along with vehicle manufacturers producing EVs with a driving range of over 300 miles.
Furthermore, existing transport infrastructure providers are investing in new strategies to support electrification with significant commitment to install thousands of charge points. Ultimately the benefits will come with the emergence of new services, which will not only make owning an electric vehicle cheaper but also a better all-round experience than we have with the combustible engine. There’s already a lot of information to digest on charging, so I’d recommend you consider the following important points along the way:
The company vehicle opportunity
Businesses are starting to look at transferring their combustion fleets to electric with catalysts that include fuel saving, lower maintenance requirements and government incentives to procure and operate. Company vehicles require a charging infrastructure not only at conventional depots and workplaces but also at residences for take-home fleet. It’s important that businesses have continuity of service with minimal disruption to their operations when making this change.
Use smart and open technology
Our energy transmission system is changing. The backbone in enabling the integration of new technology in the future is to use open sourced protocols and smart chargers now. Open charge point protocol (OCPP) would generally denote a system that supports interoperability in EV charging. By adopting open systems, we can ensure that as the technology evolves, chargers don’t need to be replaced and the infrastructure remains aligned with key business drivers like sustainability.
Check existing supply
There are numerous energy management systems (EMS) for charging, including active, dynamic, static and load/phase balancing. Today, there are two main functionalities that an EMS can provide:
1. Use an existing building load to automate the energy supply to charge EVs,
2. Manage charging at scale to ensure even distribution of electricity so EVs receive sufficient supply to meet the required mileage to drive.
Schneider Electric has innovated a load management system that provides a parking infrastructure with ultimate flexibility by actively managing existing loads on a site and distributing to vehicle chargers. With an automated EMS, customers can install EV chargers without necessarily having to upgrade electrical supplies, and they can also maximise spare capacity whilst expanding installations over time.
Make the most of government support
The most common starting point when entering the EV market is to become an OLEV approved installer. The UK government is supporting installations of up to 40 outlets with £350 per socket for workplaces and up to £350 per residential premises (some conditions apply). Coupled with all the other points mentioned in this article, this really demonstrates why now is the right time to accelerate charging point installations.
Find out more about becoming a Schneider EV Link approved installer by clicking here
